Vital Signs
SHOW #8 (airs June 25th)
Preventable Birth Defects
Our Showcase segment this month includes a look at an experimental surgery offering potential hope to spina bifida patients. We also sample alternative medical treatments from around the world.
PREVENTABLE BIRTH DEFECTS
It's one of the most common permanently disabling birth defects - but chances are, you don't know very much about it. Even more stunning: despite how prevalent it is, it can actually be prevented, some seventy-percent of the time. Preventable, but not curable. Which is why an experimental surgery for spina bifida in China is attracting interest - and cautious hope. American actors Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker sit down with Dr. Sanjay Gupta for a candid look at the challenges for their daughter Sophie, who has spina bifida. The couple has created a foundation to help bring the first official U.S. surgical trial of a Chinese procedure to reroute nerves in spina bifida patients, freeing them from use of a catheter. "Vital Signs" also travels to Wuhan, China, to meet Dr. Xiao, the urologist who has pioneered the surgery.
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS
From mind body therapy to herbal remedies, alternative treatments are as varied as the regions of the world they come from. And while they don't always garner the respect of conventional medicine, they are an undeniable part of global health. In parts of Asia and Africa, 80% of the population depend on these treatments as their primary form of healthcare. The challenge is to find balance between the alternative and the conventional. Morgan Neill visits a market in Tokyo where shark fins are sold for medicinal treatment, including cancer treatment. In a muti market in the middle of the modern city of Johannesburg, South Africa, Robyn Curnow finds that the ancient art of herbal healing is alive and well. And in Beijing, John Vause takes a look at an acupuncture treatment and tells us why of all the Chinese alternative remedies, this one has made the crossover to Western culture.
SALT CAVES FOR SINUSES
From England, we bring you a look at a recipe for holistic health - involving a little-known Eastern European tradition and lots and lots of salt. Monita Rajpal investigates the saline secret to breathing easy.
MYTHBUSTERS
As always, we sift through conflicting health information to shed light on the truths, in our monthly installment of "Mythbusters." Should you cut the carbs or lay off the fat when looking to lose a little weight? And what about the link between coffee and dementia? Dr. Sanjay Gupta weighs in with his knowledge of medicine and nutrition.
AUTISM BEFRIENDER
It's easy to understand the emotion involved for parents of autistic children. There's no cure, and the causes of the neurological disorder are still not known. Autism impacts the development of the brain in areas of social interaction and communication. Making and keeping friends can be extremely challenging. And that's the focus of an innovative program in Britain - giving sufferers and their caregivers some much-needed relief, if only for a few hours. Jim Boulden has more.
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